Our reporter
Angry youths and residents of Ekpoma, the headquarters of Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, on Saturday poured into the streets to protest the rising wave of kidnappings and insecurity that has gripped the university town.
Uptown Press gathered that, the protesters, who marched through major roads and occupied key streets, said the persistent abduction of students and residents had reached an alarming level, forcing the community to openly demand urgent government intervention. Chanting solidarity songs and carrying placards, the demonstrators vowed to reclaim their town from criminal elements terrorising the area.
Ekpoma, home to a large student population, has in recent weeks recorded repeated incidents of kidnapping and violent attacks, fuelling fear and disrupting daily life. Residents said the situation had become unbearable, with many now afraid to move freely, especially at night.
A heavy security presence was observed during the protest as operatives monitored the march to prevent a breakdown of law and order. Despite the tension, the protest remained largely peaceful, with participants calling for decisive action rather than confrontation.
The demonstrators appealed directly to Governor Monday Okpebholo to urgently deploy more security resources to Ekpoma and strengthen intelligence operations to track and dismantle kidnapping syndicates operating in and around the town.
“We can no longer sleep with our eyes closed,” one protester told Uptown Press. “Students and residents are being taken almost at will, and nothing seems to be changing. The government must act now.”
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